I'm not sure that the "superstar" route is the way to go. With the kind of money that you would have to pay the guys that you mention, we could get a lot of depth to where were totally rock solid at every position.

In '04, EVERY single guy on the team contributed (even Darko sacrificed his hand for a title). I think we have a better shot of building a team in this type of model rather than the "Superstars & Scubs" model.

'04 was an anomaly. The superstar route is the way to go if you have the possibility to do so. This because they have capped contracts and plays under their real value. The worst way to construct a team is the way the '04 team was constructed since you on average overpays the uncapped contract guys. However, since we don't have a realistic way of getting those superstars we have to settle for the 04 way but if, for any reason CP3 or/and Howard would be interested in signing with us those 04 plans should be thrown out of the window immediatly.

I think the 2013 FA class holds more importance in who we don't pay (read: overpay) rather than who we do, if recent history is any indicator.

Our best chance at getting something resembling a superstar would be improving the roster. If the location isn't great, it's key to have a set of players that looks promising to and compliments one of the bigger players out there. We have neither. Oh and recent success doesn't hurt.

It obviously kind of depends on who the Pistons draft and if they trade any assets they currently have, but assuming that they have those guys you listed above, someone like Al Jefferson would be awesome. Bring Henson and Jerebko off the bench and the Pistons would be a big team.

It obviously kind of depends on who the Pistons draft and if they trade any assets they currently have, but assuming that they have those guys you listed above, someone like Al Jefferson would be awesome. Bring Henson and Jerebko off the bench and the Pistons would be a big team.

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I'd start any and all free-agent searches by looking at younger guys. I'd look at guys who are just coming off of their rookie deals or who are at least under the age of 26 or so.

Defense: average/above average Prince can be a good defender if the heart is there. Monroe is a good on-the-ball defender, though his off-the-ball positioning needs work. Stuckey and Knight are underrated. Leonard gives them good height off the bench, and Allen is a very good defender capable of playing a Lindsey Hunter/Michael Curry type of role. Jefferson wouldn't be amazing, but he's capable and not there for his defense, anyway.

Rebounding: above average Monroe (9.7), Jefferson (9.8), Prince (4.5), Stuckey (2.6), and Knight (3.2) are all good rebounders for their position. Off the bench Leonard should be a good one, and Jerebko, Jefferson, and Monroe all attack the glass well on offense.

Inside game: very good Jefferson is a very good post player. Monroe and Jerebko are great slashers. We'd have to see what Leonard could do. Knight and Stuckey are excellent at getting into the lane, but they have to work at finding the open guy. They'll have to rely on some decent 3-point shooting to back them up.

3-point shooting: surprisingly good Prince and Knight are good 3-point shooters, and off the bench Daye has the ability (if not yet the confidence) and Jerebko and Singler can step out and play that role well. Frank should be able to design an effective motion offense with this group that relies on the drive-and-dish.

I think this team would be well-balanced with a very good inside-out offense and a solid defense. I could easily see them competing for middle of the playoff pack for the following couple years.

I'd start any and all free-agent searches by looking at younger guys. I'd look at guys who are just coming off of their rookie deals or who are at least under the age of 26 or so.

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I agree, but there isn't much out there, sadly. I'm not talking about Jefferson or West for long-term deals, just a couple years to carry the team over while the youngsters develop. I think Monroe and Leonard could learn a lot from Jefferson, actually - both in watching him on offense and practicing against him on defense.

Defense: average/above average Prince can be a good defender if the heart is there. Monroe is a good on-the-ball defender, though his off-the-ball positioning needs work. Stuckey and Knight are underrated. Leonard gives them good height off the bench, and Allen is a very good defender capable of playing a Lindsey Hunter/Michael Curry type of role. Jefferson wouldn't be amazing, but he's capable and not there for his defense, anyway.

Rebounding: above average Monroe (9.7), Jefferson (9.8), Prince (4.5), Stuckey (2.6), and Knight (3.2) are all good rebounders for their position. Off the bench Leonard should be a good one, and Jerebko, Jefferson, and Monroe all attack the glass well on offense.

Inside game: very good Jefferson is a very good post player. Monroe and Jerebko are great slashers. We'd have to see what Leonard could do. Knight and Stuckey are excellent at getting into the lane, but they have to work at finding the open guy. They'll have to rely on some decent 3-point shooting to back them up.

3-point shooting: surprisingly good Prince and Knight are good 3-point shooters, and off the bench Daye has the ability (if not yet the confidence) and Jerebko and Singler can step out and play that role well. Frank should be able to design an effective motion offense with this group that relies on the drive-and-dish.

I think this team would be well-balanced with a very good inside-out offense and a solid defense. I could easily see them competing for middle of the playoff pack for the following couple years.

In a perfect world, Maggette is traded at the '13 deadline for a future 1st rounder. Joe gets a pick back to make up for the one that we had to send to Charlotte in order to sucker them into taking Ben Gordon.

Aha... the confusion. I might have forgotten about any draft picks from next year's draft, but let's assume that I didn't and that Charlotte gets our 18th next year (cause we make the playoffs) and "random scrubs" includes the second-round picks that are hit or miss.

Aha... the confusion. I might have forgotten about any draft picks from next year's draft, but let's assume that I didn't and that Charlotte gets our 18th next year (cause we make the playoffs) and "random scrubs" includes the second-round picks that are hit or miss.

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Please send me some of the mushrooms that you've consumed that have you believing that the Pistons will make the playoffs next year. I'm really looking forward to the 2013 lottery. Pleases stop spoiling it for me!